Illuminated car-sign.



Patented Nav. 28, I899.

G. -F. BUSTWICK. lLLUMINATED CAR SIGN.

(Application filed Aug. 3, 1898.)

(No Model.)

INVENTOH 14037 A WIT/Z8858 ATTORNEY m: mums FETERS o0. PNDTO-LITHQ, WASNINGTON. o. c

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GEORGE F. BOSTWIGK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ILLUMINATED CAR-=SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,170, dated November 28, 1899.

Application filed August 3, 1898.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, GEORGE F. BosTwIoK, of the city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Illuminated Oar-Signs, of which the-following is a description, referring to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates particularly to illuminated signs which may be adjusted to change the letters appearing on the face. Although especially intended for street cars, it is not limited to such use.

The object of the invention is to produce an extremely simple and economical construction which is effective and at the same time easily manipulated.

The precise nature of the invention will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, which show one preferred form of the device.

Figure 1 is a front view of the sign removed from its supporting-brackets. Fig. 2 is a view of one end. Fig. 3 is a central cross-section. Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section showing one lamp in place. Fig. 5 is an inside end view of one of the end blocks, showing the corner-pieces in section. Fig. 6 is a detail side elevation of a part of Fig. 2, and Fig. 7 is a detail of the corresponding part at the other end of the sign.

Throughout the drawings like referencenumerals indicate like parts.

A frame consisting of end blocks 10 and corner-strips 11 carries the four transparent or translucent sign-plates 13. The end blocks 10 support the lamp 14 at each end of the sign, and these lamps illuminate the sign internally, so that the lettering on the signplates 13 may be easily read from the outside. The frame is supported at each end by means of the pins 21, each of which rests in a bracket, such as 22. (Shown in Fig. 4.) The pin at one end will be round, as shown at 20, so as to permit the rotation of the sign, while the pin 21 at the other end may be square, so as to prevent rotation when it rests in a correspondingly-shaped recess or socket, and thereby prevent the accidental turning of the sign.

I will now proceed to point out more par- $erial No. 687,580. (No model.)

ticularl y the valuable features of my improvement, and in the following claims I will define the distinguishing characteristics which I wish to protect by these Letters Patent.

The end blocks 10 have each a circular opening into which is screwed or otherwise secured a block or plug 30, which is the direct means of carrying a lamp 14 and securing it to the end block. The end block has the four grooves or channels 16, which receive the ends of the glass or other translucent signplate. The lateral edges of the end block are also recessed and fitted to receive the strips 11, which connect the two end ,blocks and which have channels 17, which receive the lateral edges of the transparent plates 13, as will be clearly understood by inspection of the figures. Screws or other fastenings l8 detachably secure the strips 11 in place. By removing one of the strips 11 it is clear that the transparent sign-plates 16, which touch that strip, can be slipped out of the frame for repair, renewal, or change. Moreover, by this means the lamps and interior of the frame can be quickly and conveniently gotten at.

The sockets 31 of the lamps are secured to the inside of the plugs 30, and the conductors from the lamp lead through the plug and thence preferably through an axial opening in the pin 20 or 21, leading thence to any suitable point, as 32, Fig. 4. The pins 20 and 21 are preferably cast with a cross-piece 25, and thereby screwed or bolted directly to the outside of the corresponding plug 30. Therefore it will be seen that upon removing the sign from the supporting-bracket either end plug 30 may be unscrewed and the lamp drawn out through the end block, together with the plug and the pin 20 or 21. At one end the sign is provided with a stop 26, which interferes with the bracket 22 and prevents the complete rotation of the sign and the consequent twisting of the leading-in wires 38. The leading-in wires 33 can of course be twisted a complete revolution without injury, sufficient slack being left for the purpose.

It will now be seen that while possessing extreme simplicity of construction my improved sign has the advantages of ready access to its interior, ready interchange of the transparent sign-plates, and a fixed relation between the lamps and the frame, so that on turning the frame the lamps turn With it.

' As a result of this last construction lamps differently colored on different sides may be employed, the color of each side corresponding with the color desired for the sign-plate on that side. In such case, therefore, it is not necessary that the sign plates themselves should be colored.

Having now set forth my invention with sufficient detail in one of its preferred emloodiments, I pointout and claim as the distinguishing novel features of the invention the followingelements and combinations:

1. In an illuminated sign, a frame including one or more end blocks, plugs 30 secured in openings within the said end blocks, a lamp secured to each such plug, and an axial York, N. Y.

GEO. F. BOSTWIOK. Witnesses:

FREDERICK H. DAvls, HAROLD BINNEY. 

